Electrochemical display and timing mechanism with migrating electrolyte

摘要

Electrochemical display cell 10 has a layered construction including two electrode layers 26, 28 and an electrolyte layer 30 occupying distinct areas of a substrate. Electrolyte layer 30 overlaps most of one electrode layer 28 and contacts a smaller portion of the other electrode layer 26 which is made of a thin film. The cell is activated by electrically connecting the electrodes 26 and 28 by way of conductive portion 32 thereby supporting an electrochemical reaction in the electrolyte layer 30 that progressively erodes the electrode 26 at the boundary 38 so as to reduce the area covered by the electrode 26 and increase that covered by the electrolyte 30. The thin-film electrode layer 26 recedes at the electrode/electrolyte boundary 38 at a rate governed by the rate of the electrochemical reaction. This provides an irreversible visual indication of the passage of time.